Closure for an opening in an oven or the like



June 18, 1968 SATKUNAS I 3,338,59g

CLOSURE FOR AN OPENING IN AN OVEN OR THE LIKE Filed March 24, 1967 Fig. 6

3 4 EIEUNO g r /f/As BY w 76.7.2,

ATTOEMEYE.

United States Patent OF THE IDESCLUSURE A closure such as a window or door providing a view therethrough for an oven or the like subject to marked changes in temperature, the closure including a frame having an opening therethrough, the frame being of a metal having one coefficient of expansion and contraction upon changes in temperature and a transparent panel member carried by the frame to cover the opening therein, the panel member having a second and markedly different coefficient of expansion and contraction upon corresponding changes in the temperature, to which the frame and panel member are subjected, the panel member being disposed on a shoulder portion of the frame around the opening and intermediate 21 metal ridge portion of the frame, the ridge portion and frame being integral, there being space between the edges of the panel member and the ridge portion to accommodate for differences in the coefficients in expansion and contraction of the frame and panel member, and clip members mounted on the ridge portion at spaced intervals around the panel member, the clip members being of harder metal than the frame and having portions that dig into the ridge portion to resist removal of the clip members from the ridge portion, and the clip members having finger portions respectively for overlying the panel member adjacent an edge thereof to hold it against the shoulder of the frame, the finger portions having such resiliency as to firmly urge the panel member against the frame shoulder and also to allow the panel member to shift for accommodating the variations in the frame and panel arising from such differences in their said respective coeflicients of expansion and contraction.

It has been found that for closures used on the openings of ovens or the like, such closures including windows and doors wherein a view is desired through the closure, that there is difiiculty in accommodating a glass or other transparent panel to the metal frame carrying the panel. The

glass, for example, has one coefficient of expansion and r contraction under marked changes in temperature and the metal comprising the frame around the glass panel has another coefficient of expansion and contraction under the same range of temperature differences. This creates difficult problems in mounting the glass panel in a metal frame so as to accommodate for these differences. If the glass panel is held too firmly and bound therearound by the constriction of the frame, then the glass may be fractured and/ or the frame may be warped and distorted. This invention is directed toward the solving of such problems and other problems related to such structures and which are well recognized by those working in the field.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel mounting means for holding a glass or other transparent panel to the frame made of metal so as to accommodate for the described differences.

Another object is to provide a mounting means for a panel in a metal frame which is adapted for quick and economic fabrication and also for ready and easy replacement of the glass panel if and when desired.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description Patented June 18, 1968 and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a closure such as a door for an even, such as, for example, a domestic baking oven;

FlGURE 2 is a rear view of the same closure as seen from the inside of the oven;

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view through the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view through the line 44- of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged view looking in the direction of the arrows 5-5 of FIGURE 4; and

FTGURE 6 is a view taken through the line 6-6 of FIGURE 41.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, 1 show a typical sized or dimensioned closure such as used on a baking oven. This closure is a door through which a view may be had, which door may also be opened and closed providing access to the oven.

The closure has a metal frame llil preferably made of an aluminum alloy or a zinc alloy or other suitable material adapted for withstanding heat and also for casting or other easy fabrication. This frame llll has a rectangular open space therethrough whereby a body of the frame extends completely around the open space 15.

On the rear side of the frame ltll there is a rectangular ridge 11A integral with the body of the frame. This ridge 11A is set back from the innermost peripheral edge of the frame defining the open space 15. This setting back of the ridge llA provides a shoulder MB on the rear side of the frame 13 adjacent the ridge 11A and adjacent the innermost peripheral edge of the frame.

Disposed upon and abutting the shoulder 11B around the extent of the open space 15 is the glass panel 12. The panel 12 is preferably made of a heat resistant glass or may be made of other transparent and heat resistant material. It is noted that the maxirnum dimension of the panel 12 is less than the area defined by the ridge lllA whereby there is a space 16 between the innermost surface of the ridge 11A and the outermost peripheral edge of the panel 12. The dimensions of the frame ll and panel 12, however, are such that there is sumcient bearing and engagement between the panel 12 and the shoulder 11B at all locations around the peripheral edge of the panel 12 so that no matter how far the panel 12 may be shifted laterally it still has a sufficient bearing against the shoulder llB completely around the panel 12.

To hold the panel 12 in position, there is utilized a plurality of holding clips 17, in this case four holding clips 17. These clips 17 are located at reduced cross sectional area portions 11C of the ridge lllA. At these locations lllC the ridge 11A is narrower than the main portion of the ridge liA. By means of these locations 11C the clip members 17 are held against longitudinal movement lengthwise of the ridge llA.

Each clip membe 17 has a longitudinal body portion 17A of general U-shaped configuration and which is disposed longitudinally of the ridge llllA. Extending out from the body portion HA intermediate its ends is a finger portion 1713 which is slightly distorted from a flat plane as seen in FIGURES 4 and 5 and thus to press inwardly against the panel 12. These finger portions 17B overlie the panel 12 at the four locations indicated so as to hold the panel 12 firmly against the shoulder 1113. At opposite ends of the body portion 17A of each clip member 17 there are provided pointed or barbed portions 170, there being four of these on each clip member 17. These pointed portions 17C are pointed and inclined toward the ridge llllA and more specifically into the reduced portion 11C and thus to dig into the metal of the ridge and resist removal of the clip member 17 from the ridge. The clip members 17 are preferably made of a spring steel in that they are harder than the metal of the frame 11 and to cause the points 17C to dig into the softer metal of the frame 11, and more specifically of the portion 17C. Also the firm resiliency of the finger portion 173 of the clip member is such as to resiliently be urged against the panel 1?; and to firmly hold the panel 12 against the shoulder 1113. At the same time, the finger portions 173 of the respective clip members 17 yield or give sufliciently to accommodate for shifting distortion of the panel 12 relative to the frame 11 and the ridge portion 11A. These clip members thus provide for a firm and strong mounting of the panel member 12 to the frame 11, and at the same time to accommodate for the differences in the coeflicients of expansion and contraction of the panel 12 and frame 11. The frame 11 and panel 12 may also creep or shift relative to each other, and the space 16 around the panel 12 and the resilient firmness of the finger members 17B against the panel member 12 accommodates for such action. Also the panel member 12 need not be cut to such precise and exact dimensions relative to the frame 1]. because of the allowance given by the space 16. It is found that the superior results are obtained and an efiicient manner of fabrication is produced.

The door thus provided as the hinges 14 which may be secured in appropriate manner to the oven such at the opening thereof and is also provided with a handle 13 that is usually provided for the manual moving of the door.

The present disclosure includes that contained in the appended claims, as well as that of the foregoing description.

Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A closure for the opening in an oven or the like subjected to marked changes in temperature, comprising in combination a frame having an opening therein, said frame being composed of a metal having one coefficient of expansion and contraction on change of temperature, said frame having on a side thereof and extending around the said opening in said frame on said side a shoulder and a ridge bordering said shoulder outwardly of said open space, a panel member disposed on said one side of the frame in engagement with said shoulder and disposed inwardly of said ridge, said panel member being of heat-resistant transparent material and having a second coefiicient of expansion and contraction on change of temperature, said second coefficient being markedly different from said first coefiicient, said panel member having a maximum outer size in length and breadth, at the elevated temperature to which subjected in use, less than the minimum inner size in corresponding length and breadth, at the corresponding elevated temperature to which subjected in use, of the space defined by the said ridge to provide compensating room between the ridge and panel member, said compensating room accommodating for variations in the difference between said maximum outer size and said minimum inner size arising from said differences in coeflicients of expansion and contraction, and a plurality of metal clip members tightly embracing said ridge at spaced locations thereon at opposite edges of the panel member, said clip members having pointed portions disposed on opposite sides of the ridge and disposed to dig into the said ridge for resisting removal of the clip members from said ridge and away from said frame, each said clip member having a finger portion extending from said ridge across said open space and overlying and engaging said panel member adjacent the peripheral edge thereof, said finger portion being so disposed as to hold said panel member firmly against said shoulder and also to permit lateral shifting of said panel member in said open space intermediate said ridge for accommodating changes in the said maximum outer size of the panel member relative to said minimum inner size of the space defined by said ridge.

2. A closure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said frame is a casting of aluminum alloy, said panel member is heat tempered glass, said opening in the frame is of generally rectangular shape, and said open space defined by said ridge is of a corresponding generally rectangular space, larger in length and breadth than said opening.

3. A closure as claimed in claim 1 and in which said clip members are of resilient steel for maintaining a tight embrace on said ridge, said pointed portions thereof are harder than the metal of said frame to protrude into the metal of the ridge in resisting removal therefrom, and said finger portion is resiliently biased to resiliently press against said panel member.

4. A closure as claimed in claim 1 and in which said ridge is integral with said frame and subject to the expansion and contraction of said frame, the ridge is substantially rectangular in cross-section and is provided with reduced cross-sectional portions for accommodating the said clip members, respectively, and resisting movement of the clip member longitudinally of the said ridge.

5. A closure for an oven or the like subjected to marked changes in temperature, comprising in combination a frame having an opening therethrough, said frame having a body portion disposed in a plane and a ridge portion integral with the body portion and protruding on one side thereof around, and spaced from the edge of, said opening to provide a shoulder bounded by the ridge on said one side, said body portion and ridge portion being made of a metal having one coefficient of expansion and contraction on change of temperature, a fiat panel member having a peripheral portion on one side thereof engaging said shoulder of the body portion, the peripheral edge of the panel member being disposed adjacent, and variably spaced from, said ridge portion on the side thereof toward said opening, said panel member being made of a transparent heat-resistant sheet material having a second coefficient of expansion and contraction on change of temperature substantially different from said first coefficient of expansion and contraction whereby the spacing between the ridge portion and panel member may vary during changes in temperature to which the frame and panel member are subjected, said panel member providing a view through said opening in the frame, and a plurality of clip members mounted on said ridge portion at spaced intervals about the ridge portion, each of said clip members having a finger portion overlying and engaging said panel member adjacent an edge thereof to hold the panel member against said shoulder and also to permit yieldably lateral shifting of the panel member on said shoulder toward and away from said ridge portion, the differences in said first and second coefiicients of expansion and contraction causing a variation in the spacing of the peripheral edge of the panel member from said ridge portion during changes in temperature to which the frame member and panel member are subjected.

6. A closure as claimed in claim 5 in which said f ame is composed of a metal casting and said panel member is composed of heat-resistant glass, and in which said clip members are composed of spring-like steel providing such resiliency to the respective finger portions thereof as to resiliently and firmly press the panel member against said shoulder and to permit said lateral shifting of the panel member.

7. A closure as claimed in claim 5 in which said ridge portion has portions of reduced cross-section at the locations of the clip members, and said clip members tightly embrace the reduced cross-section portions and maintained by the adjacent cross-section portions against longitudinal movement along the ridge portion, each of said clip members having opposed engaging portions inclined toward said ridge oortion and away from said body portion to frictionaily engage the ridge portion for resisting removal of the clip member fr rn the ridge portion.

8. A closure as claimed in claim ll and in which said frame is an aluminum alloy casting, said panel member is glass, and said clip members are spring-like steel harder than said aluminum alloy Casting, the clip members resiliently and firmly embracing the ridge portion and the respective finger portions thereof resilently pressing said panel member against said shoulder to permit lateral shitting thereof against the resilient pressure of the linger portions.

9. A closure as claimed in clai and in which said frame is a zinc alloy casting, said panel member is glass, and said clip members are strong yet resiliently yieldable metal harder than said zinc alloy casting, the Clip members resiliently and firmly embracing the ridge portion and the respective finger portions there f resiliently pressing said panel member against said shoulder to permit lateral shifting thereof against the resilient pressure of the finger portions.

References Cited UNliED STATES PATENTS 1,060,868 5/1913 Alexander et l26-200 1,122,382 12/1914 Glover 126200 1,154,430 9/1915 Possons 126-200 KENNETH W. SPRAGUE, Primary Examiner. 

